1982 Renault R12 Routier Review - A French Car From Mexico!

[@gillesmougenot8155]

Eh, ma freins i am frenchy 68 years and this car in 70's i watch is all days ! Tankyou for you ! For the fun !

[@gillesmougenot8155]

My fater car in 77's GS Club Citroën exactly That : kzbin.info/www/bejne/iX6ZiZSkmr-Cg68

[@daz71]

My first car was a Renault 12TL from 1971. The hole in the front of the car under the fender (bumper) is where you could put the handle from the jack and use it to turn the engine over and get it started if your battery ran flat. I did this several times after forgetting to turn off headlights. The 1971 car came with option front seat belts, no radio, optional bench seat across the front of the car and an awful parking break that you pull from the dash rather than lifting from the floor like most other cars. I fondly remember many DIY repairs on this car. Thanks for posting this great video.

[@10mbc]

The light with the blinders refers to the defogging being on. You had to turn it off manually. The other light is just a brake light that will turn on if any errors are detected in the braking system. The name us Renault 12. We had the Dacia 1310 / 1400 in Romania and it was the same car built under license here but with lower quality.

[@ilanoliveira4237]

I saw vídeos of Dacia 1300...it's nice! I do like them, remember our Ford Corcel (R12 for Brazil).

[@ilkeroktem9205]

That brake light also acts as parking brake / hand brake warning light.

[@javieralba5116]

Lots of memories watching this car. My dad had one exactly like this one, only it was white. He used to take my 2 brothers and me to school. Greetings from Mèxico.

[@spazjackrabbit61]

These cars are still common in Turkey and I see them every day and also Turkish production of Renault 12 continued all the way to 2000 with its final facelift called "Renault 12 Toros" introduced in 1989

[@brandonblanco8379]

They’re also pretty common in Colombia as well.

[@bid84]

Very common here in Ireland back in the 80’s

[@ibrahimerdemerturk5929]

They were so reliable that, people living rural areas of Turkey called them as "Mountain goat".

[@kizismet]

Polizeiauto in der Türkei ,1970 -2000

[@busbauerr1erwingl17]

Öyle arabaya sıçayım

[@cristianborsoi328]

Very good video. I am from Argentina and I have a 1988 model Renault 12 that belonged to my family. I use it every day, even to travel, and it never fails. It is a car that has very simple mechanics and is very reliable. Added to that is a gear. Very comfortable driving and very economical in fuel consumption. In my country it was manufactured from 1971 to 1994, it was a success in sales and today you see many on the street working perfectly since 440,000 units were sold, it is a car of excellent construction and durability. The Renault 12 was not only a family street car, but it also participated in the Rally and had its sports versions such as the Renault 12 Gordini and the Renault 12 Alpine (Argentina), in short one of the best cars manufactured by Renault in history. Greetings from Argentina

[@Al1DesAlpes]

These came out in 1969. That explains a lot.

[@marivsimperator3604]

In Romania it was produced as Dacia 1300/1310 and lots of derivates from 1969 to 2004.

[@markhealey9409]

​@@marivsimperator3604yes,I saw quite a few old Dacias in this style when I spent 3 weeks in România,in 2021.

[@tugatomskanimation6370]

The Renault R12 was actually pretty reliable during its time. It had a good reputation in Europe.

[@SombreroKnight]

You can still see these in Mexico. In my grandparents neighborhood there are about 4 parked but unfortunately non running and junked. Great review Zack!

[@foxxyguy2681]

I can vouch for this as my grandfather used to own and repair many of these Renaults in Tesistan, Mexico

[@luiselapostolfeliz2421]

@@foxxyguy2681 It's a nice nice car but not as good by today's standards because it doesn't have any modern tech and not as safe.

[@bwofficial1776]

@@luiselapostolfeliz2421 No one is comparing this to a modern car. You look at cars in the era they came from.

[@luiselapostolfeliz2421]

@@bwofficial1776 True true.

[@foxxyguy2681]

@@luiselapostolfeliz2421 i mean yeah obviously but who cares about safety and modern tech when you can have funny baguette car right

[@Koulis_]

My dad had one in the early 70s here in the UK. That was an original French model, it was later built in many different countries. It had an ancient 1300cc engine that had a distinctive sound and had that old school French magic ride comfort and comfy seats. Lovely car, reliable and comfortable.

[@kendolini79]

My dad has the Renault 12 since 1979 till today. The lights were unable to identify is for the parking brakes( looks like a microphone) the other light is for the back glass heater. I learned how to drive with this vehicle back in the 90s. My name used to represent Renault in my home town of Bamenda, North West Region of Cameroon. I love this vehicle.

[@maxeluy]

In Brazil they also become a whole Ford lineup (Corcel, Corcel II, Pampa, Del Rëy), that engine was modified and put in Ford's and Volkswagens also. Fun fact: Corcel was intended by Ford to be the Mustang equivalent, yes, a 1.4/1.6 Renault 12 with different panels and a Ford badge sold to be the South American Mustang.

[@theoutsider7581]

The icon you describe as microphone looking looks more like a brake pedal to me - so maybe a low brake fluid warning light. And the other one might be for a rear window defogger...?

[@leonardoaraujo3426]

So many regular families use to have one in Mexico 🇲🇽 !!! It was a very good car and none expensive of maintained!

[@psch220]

Had two of these in the early 1990’s when I was a student in London. First one was the estate (station wagon), engine was, um, past its best. Only lasted a year so then got the saloon (sedan) version. Loved them, v soft suspension. Not quick but had good times - student road trips to Cornwall etc. thanks for the video!

[@kizismet]

Mit 17 Jahren hatte ich einen R12 in der Türkei gefahren.. Es macht mehr Spass als ein Renault Fluence das ich aktuell fahre... Der R12 ist ein Weltauto , unkaputtbar

[@bojankolic10]

I grow up in Renault 12 TL. 😊 I was born in 1976, my father bought Renault 12 in 1974 in Slovenia. We lived in Croatia at that time Slovenia and Croatia were Yugoslav republics.. we were owners of that car until year 2000.

[@lordbrennanofsealand5772]

Still built in Romania until 2003 as the Dacia 1310. A curious crewcab pick up and estate version were produced as well.

[@SJBW196]

The original Renault 12 front looks the best - your research shows the facelifted front end. Just google the 1969 Paris Motor Show and it was shown there for the first time. My Dad had the original Estate from 1973 (you call them Station Wagons). I loved that car. So comfortable. Basic yes, but comfy!!!

[@fatihbaskin2000]

Those cars used to be quite popular in Turkey. Military pension fund OYAK was producing them under license until the end of the 1990s. Most of them are converted into using LPG fuel. They generally have problems with door handles. They break quite often. Other than that they are quite robust and comfortable. Especially those soft seats.

[@matheus_ps]

Actually there is a great history envolving this car. So, everyone knows Willys right? the one that invented the Jeep, so, they had a very close relationship with Renault back in the 60's, and they had a factory in Brazil. There, they where developing a version of the R12 to be sold in South America, but while that was happening Ford goes there and buys the whole factory and rights for the Willys cars. They complete the development of the Willys version and release it as the Ford Corcel, using the same 1.2 Cleon-Fonte engine. They made a whole family based on the Corcel, including a wagon (Ford Belina) and a Pick-up truck (Ford Pampa) both wagon and pick-up had an optional 4wd for the countryside. Then in the 80's they developed the Corcel II with a whole new body, and a luxury sedan (with 2 doors) called the Ford Del Rey, STILL USING THE SAME 60'S RENAULT PLATFORM. About the engine, later they had it enlarged to 1.6 litre and did some development on the head, they called it the CHT engine and it debuted in the south american Ford Escort until the late 90's when it was replaced by a VOLKSWAGEN ENGINE

[@andrewmusisi7147]

we loved this car my mother had this car brand new as the Renault 12 Estate we had leather seats top spec, imported directly from holland and we used it in Zambia in Southern Africa, lovely car.

[@Eric_L456]

My grandfather had a similar colour of blue 12 here in the UK ,1973 model with square headlights. There was also a station wagon and TS model with more power. The UK never got the Gordini performance version with 1650cc engine. It weighed very little so must’ve been very quick in its day.

[@bafg182]

The Renault 12 was even assembled in Australia from 1970 to about 1980 (it even won Wheels Car of the Year) and sold ok here, despite a lot of anti-French government sentiment from the unions and the public in the 70s due to Nuclear bomb testing in the South Pacific (Renault was state owned at the time too). They had a bit of a fan base, but haven’t seen one on the road in years. The 12 had a similar engine layout to older Audis, with the engine ahead of the front axle line. Previous front wheel drive Renaults, like the 16 had the engine behind the front axle line, with the gearbox ahead of the engine. My mum told me that when she was a kid, if they went on a long trip in the car, they’d take turns having a lie down on the rear parcel shelf, but seatbelts have been mandatory here since the late 60s, so that was a very long time ago

[@runoflife87]

Well, Zack, the car You tested has US-spec headlights. Typical for Mexican-built cars AFAIK. As for "idiot lights": first one may control brake fluid level, while 2nd one is for rear window defroster.

[@Doctor_Robert]

The Renault 12 looks like a 60s car... because it technically is. These first came out in 1969 and--unlike Murica and in the best European traditions--they built 'em with only mild changes for decades. In France, these were replaced by 1980, but, as you've discovered already, they THRIVED in many other markets around the world. Goofy, yes, like most French cars, but super reliable and easy to work on if you know a Renault parts guy (or are the Renault parts guy). We have to mention the Dacia 1300, which was the Romanian version of this car. Renault did Romania a solid (perhaps controversially because Cold War) and helped them introduce the 1300 in tandem with the 12 in France. ...Which they proceeded to produce until 2004 (as the composite-headlight-ed 1310!). The 12 got A TON of facelifts and regional freshen-ups throughout it's long and well-traveled history. When it was illegal to have anything but two 7-inch round sealed-beams or quad 5.75 ones in the US, you could have one of these with OVAL headlights in France. It also bears mentioning that Renault 12's have appeared in rally racing on pretty much every continent; it wasn't just a people's car... it was a people's sports car.

[@cipdamboianu5139]

Made as a Dacia 1310 until 2006 in Romania. Also built in Argentina, Turkey and Portugal. Truly the 1st international car.

[@arthurbrax6561]

I have been to Guadalajara, Mexico but sadly I never saw them. I saw SEAT, Renault and Peugeots My friend lives in Guadalajara and he has a Renault Arkana

[@MrCarnivti]

Un coche que nunca pensé que sacarías en el canal. Me alegro. Gracias

[@ezequielalberto6274]

Argento?

[@Speeder76]

My parents had one, red, in 1975. Just got married and it was, in a way, their marriage present from my grandparents. Sadly, they got only for a few months and they have to sold them because my father got a nice job abroad, in other continent. Years later, I knew a neighbour of my other grandparents home that had one, in brown. Another interesting thing: it was the first of (many) Renaults in my family. We got model 4, 5, 11, 19, a Clio, two Twingos, a Megane (i inherited them, they were from my mom) ad nowdays, a Zoe.

[@djmhyde]

in Brazil these cars were sold as Fords, with a diferent design, but the same platform and powertrain, is named Ford Corcel

[@leonardoantonio8756]

My mom had one when she was young in the 70s, she says is the best car she had during that time

[@marks6663]

We had a 1974 Renault 12TL. I learned how to drive standard on it in 1988 and it had the worst shifter on earth. It was a real clunker that car.

[@Qu1qu3P4ll1n]

It's the Renault 12, but for short we call it R12 (So the R comes from Renault). This applies to all Renault's 4, 5, 6, 7... they can be called Renault 5 (the Le Car in the US) or R5 and so on

[@danboi2842]

We had them as a Dacia in Romania. We built them as pickups, sedans and breaks. The production has come to an end in 2004

[@fortheloveofnoise]

That "microphone" I am pretty sure is either showing the clutch or break pedal.

[@henrydegan6204]

Was driving 3 of them during like 20 years in the 70s, 80s and 90s. The strange orientation of the engine is result of the fact that this engine was used in R8, R10 and guess also the Dauphine where it was mounted in the back of the car. They had to turn the engine around to get it into a front driven car like the R12. Something that not many know is the reason for that hole in the front center below the number plate. This hole gave way for a special handle (a special version of the on board jacklift) to start the engine manually(!). For that, the flywheel was a special one... I still have a R12 break which needs some work, my next project. Of course I have one of these special flywheels and handles. Starting the car manually is THE show. Even guys with high class cars are impressed lol. Never had any probs with my R12s in my opinion up to this day one of the best cars ever built. Looks awful but it robust as a truck. It was built in France, Romania, Argentina, Turkey, Mexico and from what I heard also in South Africa and Australia. Especially the break version (aka known as variable or kombi) is incredibly versatile, simple and indestructible. The engine itself is a long stroker, means it gives high torque at low revs. One of the most underrated cars ever.

[@jennydonne8946]

I do remember seeing these during the late 70s and the 80s in Britain when I was a child, as far as I'm aware it's just a Renault 12. Renault has had other longitudinal engine front wheel drive cars such as the 4, 5 mk1 (lecar) 6, 7 a sedan version of the 5 for the Spanish market and 18. There was also the Renault 21 sedan and wagon from the mid 80s, which has the option of a 1.7 litre engine mounted transversly or a 2 litre engine longitudinally.

[@ChillguyTravels]

My cousin had one - I got to drive it in high school, it was imported from Canada. The lines across the window icon were for defroster on ours.... the 'mic' light was for the emergency brake being on - ours had a foot petal to release the pull handle 'set' - similar to an old mazda that we had. Ours had the dual round lights as well. it was gutless AF - but good on gas mileage. those 3 lugnut wheels were a pain in the azz to find custom options to replace

[@THEBIGLYO]

My grandfather had one of these in romania from 1973 till he sold it in 2008. 35 years. It served him well

[@davinp]

The rounnd headlights and the metal around it remind of the late '70s Honda Accord

[@danmccarthy4700]

My dad had a Renault 12 wagon when he was in his 20s and he always speaks fondly of it.

[@thirdpedalnirvana]

IDK why but that steering wheel is amazing

[@fortheloveofnoise]

two spoke steering wheels need to come back....also single spoke

[@James-mw6se]

😚 cool car I really enjoyed seeing your video even day 😁

[@bwofficial1776]

Funky design. The French did... interesting styling and their model cycles ran about three or four times longer than you'd expect. I think Renault did import a few to the US which is why the front end with sealed beams and impact bumpers and sidemarkers was developed. It looks practical though, Renault had practicality figured out. Also of note: 3-lug wheels. The French loved 3-lug wheels.

[@Andyface79]

I think they sold them from 1971 o like 77. It's funny, this is the most conventional Renault at that time. 4 door sedan, rear wheel drive front engine layout. I don't know its that much more quirky than something like a Mazda but since it's French we automatically think its weird.

[@nicholascordoba6628]

El Renault 12, tan barato. Que carrito tan bonito

[@ivorton23]

We had these in the Caribbean back in the day. Now they’re pretty rare to see on the road

[@nunocunha6508]

Hey Zack. Thanks for reviewing old cars. Love all the old Euro cars. That said, small corrections. The model of old Renaults is just the number. People refer to them as R5 or R12, etc because its easier to say and less confusing than just "the 12". Also, this drivetrain layout is NOT very, very, rare - for example, see most Audis since the mid 60's .

[@thirdpedalnirvana]

I am pretty sure that the "microphone" is actually an old timey brake... like when brake pedals went into the floor instead of being hung from behind the dash. It's probably a braking system failure warning light (lack of fluid or brake pressure)

[@BenyKorenberg]

Its cool to see that one in the States car-culture-wise... Those are pretty common over here in the middle east and in eastern Europe and Africa...

[@Doctor_Robert]

That louver light only turns off when you do the sensible thing and install a radtastic set of aftermarket louvers in the back window!

[@chucku00]

As a French it's funny to see this version named "Routier" because routier is French for truck driver.

[@SantiagoS-mz4zz]

3:15 must be the rear windshield's heaters warning.

[@lordmaul3]

GM had a similar set up in the Oldsmobile Tornado and Cadillac Eldorado back in the day.

[@OmarDenarzi]

Thank you so Zack for these videos you make

[@brandonblanco8379]

I hope you get a chance to review a Suzuki Jimny, even if you have to go to San Diego or El Paso.

[@maurohernanvasquez9204]

Acá en Argentina se fabricó de 1971/1994 es un cochazo

[@jdmandsuch6739]

Zack again with a car I've never even heard of...lol keep it up bud

[@DuxEtRex]

Growing up my parents had a Lada, and a Chevy Citation. Talk about lower middle class😂

[@markhealey9409]

Are you Canadian? I never saw any Ladas in the US,but did see some in Ontario,so assumed they were sold there,in the 70s & maybe 80s?

[@incompetentdiplomat3716]

i think the light that isnt made sense might be an upshift light, since its shaped like an old clutch pedal

[@jdwarferc3754]

In France we call it R12 or Renault 12. R is for Renault.

[@peterchen9763]

I spent a lot of time riding this car's Romanian clone, the Dacia.

[@ordlay23]

I know you’re not Doug but how do you not mention the glove box button is shaped like a Renault logo?

[@mattwolf7698]

I'm going to guess the rear window light is for defrost (provided this car has it) that other light looked like it was for some type of pedal related thing.

[@markhealey9409]

Brake fluid

[@andrewmusisi7147]

The puvre sign you see is the window defroster

[@10mbc]

When I was born, a family friend drove my parents home in one of these, with rectangular headlights and it was yellow. And yes, the gearbox was just not good.

[@hofmannjoachim8817]

This car was originally designed as a world car by Renault.

[@Clement.V]

I'm french i know this car because i have done some search about it. The R12 is rare in France i have just seen one Renault 12 in my life.

[@coldcola5025]

It's reliable especially when it snows

[@JorginhoJorgeTufãoDoBrásil]

Saludos do Brásil❤

[@dave11686]

Very cool

[@karoltakisobie6638]

I know this car as Dacia. They were decent cars.

[@rayhavill6808]

Wh?? This car is the epitome of minimalism. It does so much with so little....and maybe you are not experienced in the originality of how they solve issues. The French dont give a a flying fish about how other people do things they simply look for the most simplistic and synergistic solutions to any problems

[@christopher4162]

They were made in communist Romania too. And my grandpa used to have one and he said if you pushed into the door with your hand, the metal would bend and pop out when you let go. The metal was so thin

[@robertvance1873]

Looks like a brake pedal warning instead of louvers 😅

[@jandemuynck2756]

Zack, R stands for Renault. You call it either Renault 12 or, commonly, just R12. The 'Le Car' is the R5, in the worst trim they've ever been made in, especially for the US.

[@scotthartman4658]

I got 2 kills with that car a few minutes ago and then proceeded to get 2 more SKS kills on my way to a third place on erangel…. Why no Dacia/PUBG reference??

[@senzen2692]

It was already a dinosaur in the 80s; but compare it to other cars in 1969 when it came out and you can appreciate the design better. Renault would close in Mexico in the latter 80s.

[@RedneckHillbilly-ho9md]

That's not a microphone it's a Brake Pedal lol. Cool little economy car but I absolutely do not like that shifter slant crap at all.

[@THEBIGLYO]

The headlights are from the newer model

[@melaniezette886]

R12 in US?

[@phillyspitta8147]

Like a French Datsun 510 that’s ready to rust away

[@conquistadoramericano]

the microphone is brake fluid

[@Vittracing]

Saludos desde Argentina, #VittRacing

[@eddymorel8503]

Les phares ronds sont pour les normes US, elles y étaient veudu....

[@eddymorel8503]

La R12 était une auto "mondiale". Fabriquée en Amérique Latine par Renault et Ford (Ford Corel), au Maghreb, et très très longtemps par la Marque Roumaine DACIA.

[@hoomanAdnan]

Naaais car 🙌🏼❤

[@sanduovidiu0304]

(Română) Un Renault 12 Routier îl are și un tip din România din orașul Brașov ( Eduard Palaghiță îl cheamă ) Mașinistul ia luat un interviu pe KZbin (English) an Renault 12 Routier have and one Guy from Romania from the Brașov city (his name is Eduard Palaghita) And MAȘINISTUL takes him an interview on KZbin

[@danielcamacho6123]

wow

[@cameronlovesevolve]

A car for the average Juan

[@robertvance1873]

Actually the front end looks like it came off of a late 70's Audi

[@brentfairlie]

Renault was not going out of business. AMC was. Renault brought AMC

[@PHXez7939]

Seatbelts in the back of the car...you don't need them!

[@ModelA]

Uh, that car s so dreadfully awful! I like it.

[@DanielJopQ]

I hate the friggin bottle sound, and also not a fan of incorrect data, the lights on the cluster are for braking system warning and rear defroster, also your age shows on how little knowledge you have. Also Renault wasn't bought by AMC, it was pretty much the other way.

[@fortheloveofnoise]

I'm 28 and it was obvious that was a pedal, either brake or clutch....how old is this reviewer?

[@atlasnovalis]

The body kinda reminds me of a Dacia 1300

[@markhealey9409]

The Dacias had the same exact design.

[@sergioyacoubdiaz7334]

🦁👆I've a renault 82 routier.

[@florinprisecaru4809]

That isn't Renault 12. In fact is a Dacia 1310 built in Romania until 1989. The original Renault 12 was a little bit different.

[@someonecalledeulogio2280]

It has the muye color

[@franklinb8347]

PUBG car